Pastor Frederick Harms

Pastor Fred Harms, who presently serves as Senior Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, was ordained in 1973. He received his undergraduate B. A. degree in English and Speech from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa in 1969. His Master of Divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota was completed in 1973.

The first parishes served by Pastor Harms were Christ Lutheran and Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Syracuse, Nebraska (1973-1975); and, First English Lutheran Church in Kimball, Nebraska (1975-1981). While serving as a Pastor in Nebraska, Pastor Harms organized the community-wide CROP Hunger Walk, initiated a Hospice Program for the Panhandle of Nebraska, and presided as Clergy Dean for the Northern Colorado Conference of the American Lutheran Church.

In February of 1981, Pastor Harms became the Associate Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he served until the end of 1991. During his ministry in Ann Arbor, Pastor Harms received his M.S.W. degree from the University of Michigan, served on the Board of Recycle Ann Arbor, and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor. He was involved in the initial plans for city-wide recycling efforts that have now come to fruition.

Pastor Harms received the Call to serve as Senior Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Grosse Pointe Farms and began his ministry here in January of 1992. He has served during the time of the acquisition of a 56 rank pipe organ, the remodeling of the entrance and installation of an elevator, and the construction of a columbarium. He has served on the Synod Council of the Southeast Michigan Synod and as Vice President of the Lay Theological Academy of Grosse Pointe. He presently serves as Clergy Dean of the Metro-East Cluster of the Southeast Michigan Synod and the Chair of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Lands Task Force for the Southeast Michigan Synod of the ELCA.

His wife, Margaret, serves as the Executive Administrator for the Bishop of the Southeast Michigan Synod of the ELCA. They have three children: Erik (wife: Nicole) Harms, Kari (husband: Jared) MacDonald, and Martin Harms.

Pastor Harm's Advent Sermon - Mentioned in the Grosse Pointe Times

Pastor Morsal O. Collier

Pastor Morsal O. Collier hails from the West African nation of Sierra Leone. He did his schooling in Sierra Leone up to the B.A. degree. After graduating, he had further pastoral training and was ordained into the ministry of the church in 1983. Pastor Collier served as Pastor/Curate in St. Philip's Church in Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone, and also taught at a high school during that time.

A few years later Pastor Collier proceeded to McGill University in Montreal, Canada where he furthered his education. Pastor Collier earned a Bachelor of Theology (B. Th.) and an advanced degree in theology, the S.T.M. (Master of Sacred Theology). For his S.T.M. degree pastor Collier specialized in Biblical Theology with a concentration in Old Testament studies.

When Pastor Collier immigrated to the USA he served a parish in downtown Washington, D.C. and later a parish in Detroit, Michigan. He was at one time a campus minister at Wayne State University. Pastor Collier currently serves as Associate Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Other capacities in which he currently serves include: The Lutheran Campus Ministry Board of Michigan, Secretary for the Grosse Pointe Ministerial Association, and a member of the Lay Theological Academy of the Grosse Pointes.

Pastor Collier's wife, Patricia, has a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Wayne State University. She is an Accountant with the Wayne County government. Their daughter Megan is currently a pupil at Dakota High School in Macomb Township. While in Sierra Leone Pastor Collier used to play in one of the leading marching bands; he started with the cornet/trumpet, played a few other instruments, and for many years was a tuba player until he left for Canada.